Israeli archaeologists have unearthed an ancient structure dated back nearly 2,800 years to the time of Solomon's Temple in Israel.
It appears to be a channel installation, but the purpose of the structure at this time is unknown.
"The channels were likely used to soak some type of product," the Israel Antiquities Authority said in a news release. "Their central location indicates that the product was connected to the Palace or Temple economy."
The archaeologists believe that it was used during the time of Solomon's Temple and likely fell out of use during the time of Kings Joash and Amaziah of Judah.
The channel installations, carved out of rock, were discovered during excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University in the City of David National Park. So far, they've found two installations about 30 feet apart. On top of a rock cliff that "encloses the installation" are seven drain pipes, "which carried liquid from the top of the cliff, which served as an activity area, to the channel installation," the Israel Antiquities Authority said.
According to the team, this is a one-of-a-kind discovery, meaning that they don't have any idea for sure what the stone-carved installation was used for. But it was physically discovered in an area of societal importance, so it likely had an important function for ancient Hebrew society.
There is no drain in the pool, so it is assumed it was used for soaking and not running water. The production of linen requires soaking of flax, and there were other production materials that also required soaking. But so far, no traces have been found left behind according to antiquity and forensic experts.
Thousands of years later, there are elements of ancient societies that we still have no idea about, and this is just the latest discovery that piques the imagination.
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